Termite Feeding and the Protozoa
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Symbiotic Relationship
Association of two dissimilar organisms in a
beneficial relationship
Spirotrichonympha leidyi
Koidzumi
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Holomastigotoides hartmanni
Koidzumi
Pseudotrichonympha grassii
Koidzumi
Formosan Subterranean
Termites
(Kingdom Animalia)
Protozoa
(Kingdom Protista)
The Benefits of the Symbiotic Relationship
The Protozoan receives:
1. A home (shelter) by living in the
termite gut.
2. Cellulose (food) from wood that the
termite eats
The cellulose is digested and acetate,
carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and
methane are produced and
released.
The Termites receives/absorbs:
1. Acetate produced by the Protozoa.
The termites use the acetate as
their energy source to carry out daily bodily
functions.
The Transfer of Protozoa in a NEW colony
The queen and the king are responsible for
feeding and passing on the protozoa to the
offspring in the new colony.
The Transfer of Protozoa in an OLDER Colony
The workers are responsible for feeding and
transferring the protozoa in an older colony.
Stomadeal Feeding
•Passing partially
digested food with the
mouth to another
termite.
Proctodeal Feeding
•Receiving food from
the anus.
External Anatomy of a Termite
Identification of Body Sections
head
thorax
1. Head = The eyes,
antennae, and
mouthparts are on the
head.
2. Thorax = The 3 pairs of
legs are attached to the
thorax.
abdomen
3. Abdomen = The
abdomen holds all
reproductive organs.
Internal Anatomy of a Termite
How wood is digested
1. Pieces of wood enters the mouth.
2. Wood is ground in the crop.
3. Wood particles enters the
hind gut and are consumed
by the protozoans, who
release acetate, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen, and
methane.
4. Acetate release by protozoa is
absorbed by the termite
5. Digested material passed
out of the anus to feed others
or build carton
Energy Source
Omnivore
Carnivore
Carnivore
Consumers/
Hetertrophs
Producers
Herbivore
SOIL BACTERIA
(decomposers)
Producer
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Materials
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5-6 Formosan Subterranean Termites (workers)
2 Forceps
1 Light microscope
1Microscope slide
1 Cover slip
2 drops of saline solution
1 disposable pipette
Kimwipes
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Method/Procedure
1.
Place a drop of saline solution on a microscope slide.
Microscope slide with a drop
of saline solution
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Method/Procedure
2. Gently grab the termite’s head and thorax with a forcep.
head
thorax
abdomen
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Method/Procedure
3. Locate the tip of the abdomen and the end of the
termite’s gut.
4. With the second forcep, grab and pull out the termite’s
gut.
head
thorax
abdomen
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Method/Procedure
5. Place the gut in the saline solution on the microscope
slide.
6. Slowly lower a cover slip on to the sample and press
down gently.
Cover slip
Microscope slide with a drop
of saline solution and termite intestine
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Method/Procedure
7. If there is extra saline solution on the microscope slide,
use a paper towel to wipe the slide clean.
Microscope slide with a drop
of saline solution and termite gut
Extracting Protozoa from Termite Gut:
Method/Procedure
8. Observe the gut sample under the microscope and
complete the laboratory worksheets.
My laboratory Worksheet